I am writing
this to Keegan, Mason, Griffin and Madelyn.
Kids,
I wanted to
document how my diagnosis came about.
Since I am not real great at writing in my journal, I thought this would be a good
place to store this information for you guys.
I hope and pray that this information is never needed for any of
you. The worst part about the diagnosis
is that it could be hereditary. But, I
know lots of people who have parents that have MS and the kids did not get
it. In fact Jessica (our neighbor,
Clara’s mom) both of her parents had MS and her and her siblings do not have it.
Back in
March of 2012 I woke up one day and my hands and feet were numb. They felt asleep. You know when your hand falls asleep and it
feels like needles are poking you or it kind of tingles? It was a constant 24/7 feeling. A few weeks went by and I decided to go to
Dr. Morrison and get some blood work done.
Hoping I was low on Vitamin B 12, Diabetic or had a Thyroid issue. Tingly hands could be present for those
things. My blood work came back great,
except I had extremely high B12 levels.
So Dr. Morrison sent me to a blood doctor at a Cancer Center. It all was fine and moved on to the next
Doctor. I went to a Neurologist and had
all sorts of test run. Everything
checked out fine. Next step was an
MRI. Since everything was checking out,
I was pretty sure the MRI would too. The
Neurologist said he would tell me the results over the phone when they came
in. Three days later I got that call
from the doctor and he wanted to meet in person and he said “bring your husband
today!” YIKES! Your dad and I were very scared. We thought it must be worse than MS because
he mentioned he would tell me if it were MS over the phone. So for about 1 hour, we thought I probably
had some brain cancer and only a few months to live. The worst thoughts were coming into my
mind. Like, “oh my gosh I am so behind
on my blog and I still have not got those pictures caught up from 2005 to 2010”. I was freaking out! :)
The doctor sat with us and told me that I have lesions on my brain and
it looked like MS. Whew! What a relief. I smiled and we left. The next step was a Spinal Tap to make sure
and try for a 100% diagnosis.
MRI: showed I had one big lesion on my brain and 4
to 5 on my spinal column.
A week later
I got the spinal tap and then the stupid spinal headache. That is when the hole that they punched in my
spinal column to get fluid out did not clot and heal and it leaks out
fluid. Oh my gosh, that was the most
pain I have ever felt. That is saying
something because I have delivered 3 babies without medication. I know pain and that headache was extreme
pain. Luckily, it’s an easy fix. They go back in and do what’s called a blood
patch. They withdraw my own blood and
put it in the hole that they took the fluid out and it clots and heals it. It was beautiful. I could see straight again. Yay!
May 21st,
2012 I got the official MS Diagnosis.
The
neurologist sat with dad and I and told us all about MS. The doctor said “you
seem to be taking this all very well, you are very positive”. I
thought … maybe I should be crying my eyes out?
With your Dad by my side, I took the information in and took the books
about the medication and left. As Dad and
I got into the car we looked at each other and I said “Well, it could be worse!”
I knew the drugs were not for me. First, they are all injections. I am so afraid of needles. Second, it’s about a 30% chance that they will do anything for MS. Third, the side effects are awful and my symptoms are not even as bad as the side effects. Fourth, I was lead to other resources and ways of treating MS and for me that was a sign from God to try those things first.
So for now,
I would not take the medication. Instead
I found lots of research on “healing foods.”
This is a new term that is always in my mind while I choose what foods
to eat. Boring, I know. But, it is what I had to do to try to slow
the process of MS. I am trying a Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free
diet. I feel great and I have lost a ton
of weight (perk) and have lots of energy.
I eat mostly raw fruits and veggies.
Here is a list of some of my resources. Not sure they will still be around if any of
you get interested in reading these. But
I thought I would add them anyway!
Books:
Eat to Live
The China Study
Engine 2 Diet
Spunky Cocunut
Documentaries:
Food Matters
Forks Over Knives
Health Websites:
After a couple of months
of strictly eating a plant based diet…I cracked. I am a fat girl at heart. I love food and I love baked treats and one
day I had a subway sandwich. We went
there as a family. I ordered a 6 inch
whole wheat sub with nothing but Veggies on it.
The next day I fell down the stairs and the day after that I went for a
run and fell on my face. I got, what is
called, drop foot. This was the first
time I was actually really scared. I
thought “This is real!” I suddenly felt
alone, sad and very scared for my future.
The emotion was like an ocean wave as it hits the sand. It kept coming and crashing in and no
stopping it. I cried for a week
straight. At this point it was 4 months
after I was told I have MS. It was time
to deal with the emotional part of it. I
knew standing there letting these waves of emotion take me down was not
an option. I quickly got up, dusted
myself off, or stopped my pity party, whatever you want to call it and found my strength
again.
It could be worse! It could always be worse!
Some quotes I love:
"Everyday may not be good, but there is something good in everyday" unknown
"Find Joy in the Journey" Thomas S. Monson
"The food you eat can either be the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison" Ann Wigmore
"It is your reaction to Adversity, NOT adversity itself, that determines how your life's story will develop" Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Love you guys,
Love,
Mom
